BIS Technical Consultation – a new, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for the Higher Education sector

This consultation has now closed; the Government will respond in due course.

Download the BIS Technical Consultation: a new, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for the Higher Education sector (pdf-426KB)

The recent White Paper Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System (June 2011) set out a commitment to introduce a new, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework to establish the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as lead regulator. This document is a technical consultation, to be read alongside the White Paper, to inform what changes in procedures, powers and duties will need to be considered, particularly in forthcoming legislation, in order to protect the student interest and provide a high quality experience.

As set out in the White Paper the principal aim of the regulatory framework must be to protect the interests of students and the public investment.  We are committed to reducing bureaucracy overall while maintaining accountability in the public interest. We will do this in the context of preserving academic freedoms and institutional autonomy and maintaining HEFCE’s independence as an arms-length body.

This document seeks your views on how the new regulatory system should operate within the principles we have already set out. It covers:

  • The introduction of an independent lead regulator
  • A single regulatory framework for provider designation for student support and HEFCE teaching grant
  • The adoption of a single gateway for entry to the higher education sector
  • Reforms to Degree Awarding Powers (DAPs) and University Title (UT) criteria
  • Simplifying the process for changing corporate status

You can download the consultation document (pdf 426KB). You can also download a letter from BIS ministers to stakeholders.

Our deadline for responses is 27 October 2011. We look forward to reading your responses.

4 Responses to BIS Technical Consultation – a new, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for the Higher Education sector

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  3. Peter Morris says:
    August 17, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    In support of Improving the Student Experience, the remit of SPA could be changed from Supporting Professionalism in Admisssions to Supporting Efficiency (i.e. being Lean) in Admissions. All HEIs do admisssions professionally but slightly differently so it is difficult to identify and promote a single modele of best practice. Efficiency, on the other hand, is a concept that is commonly understood and that can be measured in terms of costs etc. It might be possible to introduce cross-sector measures of efficiency starting with Admisssions but then moving on to teaching and other more mainstream HEI services. These might help improve the student experience in two ways i.e. by providing more information and incentivising cost reductions.

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